Particle size distribution study by small-angle X-ray scattering technique and photoluminescence property of ZnO nanoparticles

Abstract

ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesised by thermal decomposition of zinc acetate at 800 C. The structural characteristics and size distribution of ZnO nanoparticles have been investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), respectively. SAXS study reveals nanoparticles are of different sizes: namely 23 wt% of 8nm, 19wt% of 21nm and 58 wt% of 51nm. These ZnO nanoparticles possess yellow visible emission at 552 nm. The polydispersity and single emission peak at 552nm in ZnO nanoparticles suggest that the yellow emission might be a bulk property instead of having a surface origin in nanostructured ZnO. The surface impurities are characterised by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The quenching of band edge emission in ZnO nanoparticles seems due to the presence of surface impurities. © 2009 Taylor & Francis.